PHSC 121 Liberty University Exam 3
Questions And Answers
/. We have seasons because - Answer-the earth's axis of rotation is tilted 23.5 degrees
relative to the ecliptic
/.Which of the following is true of the vernal equinox - Answer-the Sun is now crossing
the equator into the northern hemisphere and the northern hemisphere begins to face
toward the Sun
/.For someone standing on the Tropic of Cancer, the sun will appear at the observer's
zenith ___________ each year and at the equator an observer will see the sun at zenith
___________ each year - Answer-once/twice
/.Which of the following is MOST important in creating our seasons today - Answer-the
angle of the sunlight when it strikes the ground
/.The Earth is farthest from the Sun in __________ and the Earth - Sun distance varies
about _________ % in a year - Answer-July/3
/.Tides on the Earth are caused mostly by - Answer-the Moon because it is closer to the
earth than the Sun
/.Highest tides occur during which phase of the moon? - Answer-New and Full
/.How frequently does a Spring tide occur? - Answer-twice each month
/.The effect of the Sun on Earth tides is about ____________ x the effect of the Moon.
Also, water tidal ranges (height of the tides) can be from about 30 cm to about
____________ meters. - Answer-half/16
/.Which of the following is not true of the winter solstice? - Answer-the northern
hemisphere receives the most direct sunlight of the year
/.Each location on the Earth experiences _____________ high and low tide(s) each 24
hours. The high tides occur when the observer's location on the Earth is ____________
- Answer-2/facing the moon and then on the opposite side fo the Earth from the Moon
/.A black hole is - Answer-a region in space where mass produces a gravity field so
intense that neither matter nor light itself can escape
/.Black holes are thought to be caused by - Answer-collapsing stars
, concentrated mass at the center of galaxies
/.A quasar is - Answer-a large remote energy source which may contain a black hole
/.Quasars are thought to be caused by - Answer-high energy radiation emission from
the cores of galaxies
/.How does the Nebular hypothesis say the Solar System formed? - Answer-a large
rotating gas cloud existed and compressed into the Sun with the planets forming by
collisions and accretion of rotating masses
/.The frost line is - Answer-the boundary lying between Mars and Jupiter, separating the
hot interior of the original gas cloud from the cooler outer regions where hydrogen could
condense
/.Why, theoretically are the inner planets made of rocks and the outer planets of gas? -
Answer-the inner planets formed by minority rocky substances but the majority
substance, hydrogen, could only condense into planets in the outer regions
/.According to the Nebular Cloud Theory of Solar System development, the Jovian
planets began as planetesimals composed mostly of ____________ . The cores grew
until ___________ was able to draw in ___________ from the surrounding cloud
material. - Answer-hydrogen with traces of rock and metal / gravity / hydrogen and
helium
/.What (theoretically) determined the chemical make-up of planets at each location in
the gas cloud/solar system? - Answer-temperature of the cloud at different distances
from the cloud's center
/.Why (theoretically) do we have asteroids and comets today? - Answer-there are left
over bits of material from the accretion process; asteroid from inside the frost line and
comets from outside
/.What is the theoretical explanation for Uranus' different rotation axis orientation relative
to its orbit around the Sun - Answer-Uranus was impacted by one large object or
several large objects which shifted its plane of rotation to what it is now
/.Why doesn't the collision theory appear to successfully explain Uranus' different axis of
rotation - Answer-Uranus' own orbit around the Sun would have been effected
significantly and this is not evident in Uranus' orbit today
/.Which of the following is a problem with the theory that a nebular gas cloud formed the
sun and planets? - Answer-A contracting, heating gas cloud, would stop collapsing due
to the force balance between gravity and internal pressure, making star formation
impossible
Questions And Answers
/. We have seasons because - Answer-the earth's axis of rotation is tilted 23.5 degrees
relative to the ecliptic
/.Which of the following is true of the vernal equinox - Answer-the Sun is now crossing
the equator into the northern hemisphere and the northern hemisphere begins to face
toward the Sun
/.For someone standing on the Tropic of Cancer, the sun will appear at the observer's
zenith ___________ each year and at the equator an observer will see the sun at zenith
___________ each year - Answer-once/twice
/.Which of the following is MOST important in creating our seasons today - Answer-the
angle of the sunlight when it strikes the ground
/.The Earth is farthest from the Sun in __________ and the Earth - Sun distance varies
about _________ % in a year - Answer-July/3
/.Tides on the Earth are caused mostly by - Answer-the Moon because it is closer to the
earth than the Sun
/.Highest tides occur during which phase of the moon? - Answer-New and Full
/.How frequently does a Spring tide occur? - Answer-twice each month
/.The effect of the Sun on Earth tides is about ____________ x the effect of the Moon.
Also, water tidal ranges (height of the tides) can be from about 30 cm to about
____________ meters. - Answer-half/16
/.Which of the following is not true of the winter solstice? - Answer-the northern
hemisphere receives the most direct sunlight of the year
/.Each location on the Earth experiences _____________ high and low tide(s) each 24
hours. The high tides occur when the observer's location on the Earth is ____________
- Answer-2/facing the moon and then on the opposite side fo the Earth from the Moon
/.A black hole is - Answer-a region in space where mass produces a gravity field so
intense that neither matter nor light itself can escape
/.Black holes are thought to be caused by - Answer-collapsing stars
, concentrated mass at the center of galaxies
/.A quasar is - Answer-a large remote energy source which may contain a black hole
/.Quasars are thought to be caused by - Answer-high energy radiation emission from
the cores of galaxies
/.How does the Nebular hypothesis say the Solar System formed? - Answer-a large
rotating gas cloud existed and compressed into the Sun with the planets forming by
collisions and accretion of rotating masses
/.The frost line is - Answer-the boundary lying between Mars and Jupiter, separating the
hot interior of the original gas cloud from the cooler outer regions where hydrogen could
condense
/.Why, theoretically are the inner planets made of rocks and the outer planets of gas? -
Answer-the inner planets formed by minority rocky substances but the majority
substance, hydrogen, could only condense into planets in the outer regions
/.According to the Nebular Cloud Theory of Solar System development, the Jovian
planets began as planetesimals composed mostly of ____________ . The cores grew
until ___________ was able to draw in ___________ from the surrounding cloud
material. - Answer-hydrogen with traces of rock and metal / gravity / hydrogen and
helium
/.What (theoretically) determined the chemical make-up of planets at each location in
the gas cloud/solar system? - Answer-temperature of the cloud at different distances
from the cloud's center
/.Why (theoretically) do we have asteroids and comets today? - Answer-there are left
over bits of material from the accretion process; asteroid from inside the frost line and
comets from outside
/.What is the theoretical explanation for Uranus' different rotation axis orientation relative
to its orbit around the Sun - Answer-Uranus was impacted by one large object or
several large objects which shifted its plane of rotation to what it is now
/.Why doesn't the collision theory appear to successfully explain Uranus' different axis of
rotation - Answer-Uranus' own orbit around the Sun would have been effected
significantly and this is not evident in Uranus' orbit today
/.Which of the following is a problem with the theory that a nebular gas cloud formed the
sun and planets? - Answer-A contracting, heating gas cloud, would stop collapsing due
to the force balance between gravity and internal pressure, making star formation
impossible
